Yesterday was a bittersweet day for me. We had an awesome service at the theaters. Then, we packed up and left for the last time. I didn’t expect to feel so attached to the theaters on the last day. I’ve been wanting to move for a long, long time so I was surprised to find myself getting a little emotional as we left.
I really wanted to be the last one to leave theater #10. Once everyone else had left, I stayed behind and just sort of soaked it all in. We spent five years at that theater. So many big events in my life happened in that theater. So many lives were forever changed there.
I decided to pray for a bit and then I just left. I ran into two great, great couples (the Reksten’s and the Hipps’) in the parking lot on the way out and I told them how shocked I was to be feeling the way I was feeling. I also told them that I guess it was because I had invested five years of my life into that place. Then, Bryan Reksten said, “No, you invested five years into this place” as he pointed to his heart. I knew he was sort of half joking but I also knew what he said was true. The church isn’t a place or a building. It’s people.
After that, I raced over to the office to help unload the moving trucks. When I arrived there it seemed like half the church (or more) was there to help out. It was so encouraging to see the church being the church. Everyone was working together and laughing and having a great time. It was awesome and it was also another reminder that the church is family.
Right now, I’m both thankful for all God has done and excited about the future! Goodbye theaters! Hello North Gwinnett High School!